Page 55 of Love Me
He sat on the edge of the bed and took my hand. “I don’t give a shit about other people or if I disappoint them. It’s the ones I care about. You and my brothers. You are the ones I don’t want to disappoint.”
I squeezed his hand. “Your brothers love you and want you to be happy. I’m sure they created that college fund for you because they thought that was your goal and they were trying to do whatever they could to help you reach that goal. If you’re honest with them and tell them that it isn’t your goal, I know they will understand. Or if you do want to go to college, but hate being on the swim team, we’ll figure something else out. And by we, I mean me, too. I’ll help you look into other options to help pay for school.” I stepped closer and wrapped my arms around his waist. “I can confidently say that none of us want you to continue doing something you hate because you don’t want to disappoint us. Imagine if our roles were reversed. How would you feel about that?”
He tucked my hair behind my ear and gave me a sweet kiss. “Thank you.”
13
The next day,after school, I went shopping with Isabelle. I wanted to give the guys some time alone. Last night before bed, Colt had announced that he wanted to have a talk with his brothers. Without hesitation, they had agreed. Keelan had suggested that they go out and do something. Creed had come up with some ideas, like paintballing and going to dinner. Knox had rescheduled things workwise, so that he only had to work a half-day and would be present by the time the twins got out of school. I loved how they prioritized being there for Colt, and I hoped he saw that and it made talking to them a lot easier for him.
“How’d the interview go yesterday?” I asked Isabelle as we walked through a costume shop.
Isabelle frowned. “I don’t know. Knox is a hard person to read.”
I huffed a laugh as I flipped through the rack of clown costumes. “I’m sure it went great.”
“Is he always so intense?” she asked as she looked through mermaid and siren costumes. She was making her own costume for the party, but she had told me it was missing something, an element, and wanted to look around for inspiration.
“He’s like that with everyone. The more you get to know him, though, you learn to see past it.”
Isabelle glanced over at me, and I saw the questions written all over her face.
Smiling, I focused back on my search. “Just ask.”
“Are you—I know you’re with Colt and Creed, and no way am I judging you—” she rambled and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “But I saw how you were at Keelan’s birthday party with Knox and at the mud run with Keelan. Are you dating them, too?”
“Yes.”
“Wow,” was all she said for a moment. Then she blurted, “I bet you have amazing sex.”
Instantly, my cheeks burned.
Isabelle laughed. “Sorry. I’m kind of jealous, but at the same time, I know I’d be overwhelmed with so many penises in the bedroom.”
“Isabelle!” I gaped.
She giggled. “If our roles were reversed, you mean to tell me you wouldn’t be curious?”
She had a point.
“Soooo,” she drawled with a grin. “Are you going to give me some spicy tidbits? I’ll share some I’ve had with Ethan.”
“You want to talk about our sex lives?”
“That’s what friends do. We share details.” She wiggled her eyebrows up and down.
Trying not to smile, I said, “You and Ethan really are perfect for each other.”
She sighed. “That man is my match, especially when we’re naked.”
I glanced around, hoping no one could hear us.
“You’re blushing like you’ve never gotten naked with your guys,” she said as she eyed me.
“I have,” I whispered. “Well, not with all of them.”
Her brows rose with intrigue. “Oh really? Who’s the one holding out?”
“Knox,” I blurted and winced. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that. Was it a betrayal to Knox to vent my frustration to someone else? Or would it be a good idea to get an outside perspective?
